of Staphylhiidce from Mexico, §'c. 427 



assign to it is in the neighbourhood of Plociopterus and 

 BracJiydirus, though it is extremely different from those 

 insects in appearance and in the structure of its palpi ; 

 I thought it probable at one time that it would prove to 

 be allied to the Eastern Trichocosmetes and its neighbours, 

 but the structure of the prothorax proves to be very dift'erent 

 from what it is in the oriental forms mentioned, while the 

 points it has in common therewith, such as the subserrate 

 antennas and the narrow neck, are of much less primary 

 importance. Taking all into consideration, it appears to 

 be a very isolated form. 



Selma modesta, n. sp. Nigra, opaca ; dense, subtiliter 

 pimctata ; antennis apicem versus testaceis. Long. corp. 

 14 mm. 



Antennae nearly black at the base, becoming paler 

 towards the apex, the last three or fom* joints nearly en- 

 tirely yellow ; they are 4 mm. in length, and distinctly 

 thickened towards the apex; joints 6—10 with the upper 

 inner angle acute; 3rd joint rather longer than 2nd; 10th 

 scarcely so long as broad. Head short and broad, dis- 

 tinctly narrower than the thorax ; the eyes large and con- 

 vex, so that they only leave a small part at the hind angles 

 unoccupied ; the vertex is straight, and the neck scarcely 

 half the width of the head ; the upper surface is densely 

 and evenly but not coarsely punctui-ed, quite dull, but wdth 

 very little pubescence, and has a minute fovea on the middle. 

 Thorax about as long as broad, distinctly narrower than 

 the elytra, the hind angles very indistinct ; the surface is 

 extremely densely and rather finely punctured ; it is quite 

 dull, and bears a fine, depressed, dark, fuscous pubescence. 

 Scutellum covered with a fine black pubescence. Elytra 

 rather longer than the thorax, black, with an obscure 

 brassy tinge, densely and finely punctured, but the punc- 

 tuation very indistinct, except towards the humeral angles, 

 where the very fine pubescence is more scanty. Hind 

 body black, with a very indistinct brassy tinge, much nar- 

 rowed towards the apex, densely and finely punctured, and 

 with a very fine pubescence ; the middle of each segment 

 at the base, however, is only very sparingly punctured, so 

 that when extended the hind body looks a little shining 

 along the middle. The legs arc black and rather short 

 and stout; the tarsi pitchy ; the basal joint of the hind foot 

 broad, and quite as long as the three following together ; 

 the tibiae bear an ashy pubescence. 



F F 2 



